Poignant? Life-changing? Humorous? Which books should you get for that animal lover on your holiday list?

Here, I share a list of my favorites and include expert advice with suggestions from library professionals across the country.

Are your favorites here? If not, share them in the comments section below!

1. All Creatures Great and Small and All Things Bright and Beautiful by James Herriot (aka James Wight). I treasure the way Wight weaves his observations of people and animals into clever tales that show life’s humor, sadness, pain, and joy.
2. Ball by Mary Sullivan. “For a wonderful children's picture book, I recommend this award-winning and nearly wordless story,” says Anne Ayres, Chicago Public Library children's librarian and part of a family with three people, two cats, and one dog.
3. Charlotte's Web by E.B. White with illustrations by Garth Williams and Rosemary Wells. I admit I didn’t read this until I was an adult. I wanted to know why a story about a pig and a spider could be such a beloved children’s classic. Now I know.
4. ​Chet and Bernie mystery series by Spencer Quinn. “I love (love-love-love!) this series of eight books by Spencer Quinn,” says cat and dog owner Katy Linehan, Chicago Public Library librarian. “Chet is a K-9 dog who flunked out of K-9 school and went to work with Bernie, a former cop working as a private detective. The books are narrated by Chet and told from his point of view. They are light mysteries (not gory or overly violent) and also quite funny. Start with the first book Dog on It, although they probably could be read out of order. I've listened to all of them, except the very newest one, on audiobook book CD and the narrator, Jim Frangione, is absolutely fantastic.”
5. Chicken Soup for the Soul: Loving our Cats: Heart Warming and Humorous Stories of Our Feline Family by Jack Canfield. “These are heartwarming, amusing, inspirational, and occasionally tearful stories about our best friends and faithful companions,” says Lurine S. Carter, coordinator of Children/Teen Services for the Detroit Public Library. 
6. Dinosaurs from Head to Tail by Stacey Roderick with illustrations by Kwanchai Moriya. It’s beautifully illustrated in bold colors, says Carter, and not only gives the names of the various dinosaurs, but also pronunciation help to guide children as they learn fun facts.
7. The Dogs Who Found Me: What I've Learned from Pets Who Were Left Behind by Ken Foster.“Anyone who has rescued or fostered dogs will enjoy this memoir,” says Kyleen Kenney, Chicago Public Library librarian who has two shelter dogs of her own. “Foster, a shelter dog lover and pit bull rescuer, has made it his life's work to ‘see’ the strays that most people ignore.”
8. Egg: Nature’s Perfect Package by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page is nonfiction and one of “any” books by Jenkins that Carla Kozak, youth collection development specialist for the San Francisco Public Library, enjoys and highly recommends.
9. Endangered by Eliot Schrefer. Carter enjoys this adventure tale about a girl who must save a group of bonobos and herself from a violent coup.
10. Four books by Kate DiCamillo. It was hard to choose just one from this great storyteller so Kozak suggests these award winners and I have to agree: The Tale of Despereaux, a fantasy story of a misfit mouse; Because of Winn-Dixie, all you really need to get through life is a good dog; Flora and Ulysses, a squirrel, a girl, a vacuum cleaner, and the power of poetry; and the series of beginning chapter books about the pig, Mercy Watson.
11. Frisky Brisky Hippity Hop by Susan Lurie and Alexina B. White with photographs by Murray Head. “Wonderful photographs accompany a joyful poem: Squirrels just want to have fun,” says Kozak.
12. Kitty Cat, Kitty Cat, Are You Waking Up? by Bill Martin Jr. with illustrations by Michael Sampson. Carter says this book has a great give-and-take between a dawdling kitty and its mom. “It has beautiful illustrations and you can’t help but love this cat with its always friendly disposition. It’s comical. It rhymes. I love this book,” she says.
13. Making the Rounds with Oscar: The Extraordinary Gift of an Ordinary Cat by David Dosa, MD.“As a permanent resident of the Steer House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Rhode Island, Oscar is your typical cat in all ways except one: He seems to possess the uncanny ability to sense when the end of life is near. This story offers insight into the connection between animals and humans and about the lessons we learn if we allow ourselves to listen and let go,” says cat and dog owner Stephanie Kitchen, a Chicago Public Library librarian.
14. Mr. Wuffles! by David Wiesner. Kozak enjoys this book about an imperious cat that meets its match when tiny aliens team up with insects. She says she particularly loves the stunning illustrations and the three non-human languages.
15. Neighborhood Sharks: Hunting with the Great Whites of California’s Farallon Islands by Katherine Roy. “This is a beautiful, interesting, appropriately bloody, and extremely informative book about an important predator,” says Kozak.
16. Norman, Speak! by Caroline Adderson and illustrated by Qin Leng. Kozak enjoys this charming, multicultural story about a family that loves its rescue dog, but feels it isn’t too bright because it’s not learning commands. “Then they realize the dog is very well-trained—to respond to Chinese commands,” says Kozak. “So, the family enrolls in a Chinese language class.”
17. The Octopus Scientists: Exploring the Mind of a Mollusk by Sy Montgomery with photographs by Keith Ellenbogen, is a nonfiction standout, says Kozak.
18. The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate. I love this bittersweet story based on the life of a real gorilla who existed for almost 30 years in a mall zoo. Told from his perspective, it looks at the relationship of animals and humans. 
19. Pete & Pickles by Berkeley Breathed is the very favorite animal book of Lynn Lobash, manager of reader services at the New York Public Library. “This children’s book is the story of an unlikely friendship that makes me cry every time I read it,” she explains.
20. ​The Search by Nora Roberts. “As an adult fiction read that is a rollicking romp for a dog lover, I would recommend this romantic suspense about an imperiled dog trainer named Fiona,” says Ayres.
21. The Underneath by Kathi Appelt with illustrations by David Small. Kozak and I both recommend this book. It’s a heart-wrenching tale of a mistreated hound and an abandoned cat and her kittens as they struggle to escape a vicious man woven with a parallel story about a shape-shifting ancient water snake.
22. Unlikely Friendships: 47 Remarkable Stories from the Animal Kingdom by Jennifer Holland.The unexpected friendships of a cat and a bird, a mare and a fawn, an elephant and a sheep, and more make this book one that Carter recommends.

Source: AAHA.org / Maureen Blaney Flietner

When searching for a new canine companion, it’s easy to fall for the energy and adorableness of a puppy. But remember, youth comes with challenges—chewing, housebreaking and obedience training.If you’re looking for a well-mannered mutt that still has a lot of love to give, consider taking home an older dog. In honor of Adopt a Senior Pet Month, which encourages the adoption of dogs age 7 or older each November, we’re sharing 10 reasons senior pets make wonderful additions to the family. Tracey Stewart, wife of comedian Jon Stewart and well-known animal lover, shares 10 tips from her new book Do Unto Animals.

She says many senior pets were raised in loving homes and have since lost their guardians due to divorce, illness, or death—none of which changed the love between them and their guardians. Seniors are simply looking to share their loving nature with a new family.

1. They come with few surprises. There’s no need to wonder how big they will grow, how often they will need to be groomed, or what their personality will be like. What you see is what you get!

2. Bye-bye, potty-training manuals! Seniors are likely to have already been house-trained—or if they haven’t been, they are physically and mentally ready to pick it up in no time.

3. It’s nice to say things just once. Seniors have been around humans long enough to understand our language. They often know what we are asking or can quickly learn to do as we ask. You can teach an old dog new tricks, and fast!

4. They fit right in. A senior dog or cat has been around the block a few times and has come into contact with many other dogs, cats, and people. Seniors usually know what it takes to effortlessly fit in with a family and can do it with ease.

5. You can relax! Unlike a puppy or kitten being introduced to a home, a senior animal usually isn’t constantly getting into trouble. You don’t have to puppy-proof or kitten-proof your house for months on end.

6. They enjoy brisk walks and don’t ask for much. Older dogs do not require being taken on three runs daily, and they will tire of playing fetch after a short while! Although they do need exercise, seniors are often fine with a nice walk in the morning, aside from potty breaks.

7. Your favorite new shoes will be safe from doggy damage. With their teething years behind them, destructive chewing is usually a thing of the past.

8. Age is just a number. Age doesn’t always mean health problems and expensive medical bills. Young animals can develop health issues as well, and medical bills are usually par for the course throughout an animal’s life. Each animal is an individual and deserves to be viewed without judgment.

9. They give your heartstrings an extra tug. There is something incredibly powerful about providing sanctuary, love, care,
snuggles, and ultimately peace to a senior pet in his or her final years.
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10. Short but sweet time spent together. Kids go off to college, people retire, and situations change. Sometimes we might have a more limited period of time to devote to the care of a special animal. You can still benefit from the companionship of a super senior. 

Source: Parade.com / Heather Thompson

Blue Buffalo Company, Ltd. is voluntarily recalling a limited production of Blue Kitty Yums Chicken Recipe Cat Treats that may contain low levels of propylene glycol, which is not permitted by the FDA for use in cat food.

Cats reacting to high doses of propylene glycol may exhibit signs of depression and may have a loss of coordination, muscle twitching, and excessive urination and thirst. If your cat has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.
The affected product was distributed nationwide in the US and Canada through pet specialty stores and e-commerce.

The product is packaged in a 2 oz., plastic stand up pouch. Only these specific code dates of this product are involved:

• Blue Kitty Yums Tasty Chicken Recipe, UPC: 859610007820 - Best If Used By: April 24, 2016.
• Blue Kitty Yums Tasty Chicken Recipe, UPC: 859610007820 - Best If Used By: July 24, 2016.

No other BLUE pet foods or treats are involved in this recall.

The FDA tested product in response to a single consumer complaint and found propylene glycol in one bag of our cat treats in the impacted lot. To date we have had no other reports of incidents related to our cat treats. Out of an abundance of caution, we are voluntarily recalling all product manufactured in the same lot as the subject bag.
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Consumers who have purchased the product being recalled may return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact Blue Buffalo at: 888-667-1508 from 8 AM to 5 PM Eastern Time Monday through Friday and the weekend of November 7, 2015 or by email at [email protected] for more information.

Staph Infection in Dogs and Cats: Don’t Panic
 A staph infection in your dog or cat, thank goodness, is usually nothing to worry about — particularly if you get in to see your veterinarian as soon as you notice something is wrong.

Bacteria of the genus Staphylococcus are what we call “ubiquitous.” In other words, staph is a very common bacteria that normally lives everywhere — in the environment, on the skin, and in the noses and mouths of our pets.

High-risk Scenarios for Staphylococcal Infections in Pets
Typically, a staph infection in your dog or cat is not troublesome. PHEW! That being said, staph infections are able to take advantage of certain situations and an infection can develop.This can make staphylococcus an “opportunistic pathogen.” It is most likely to take advantage of:

• Really young or senior pets: Puppies and kitties do no have a fully built immune system that is working at 100%. Because staph infections are ubiquitous and opportunistic, they can take advantage of an immature or less-capable immune system.
• Pets with underlying skin allergies: These pets can have irritated or abraded skin from licking, chewing, or rubbing the itchy area. While intact, healthy skin normally has staph on it, the skin prevents infection. Loss of that normalcy due to allergies, itching, and irritation makes for a situation that staph can take advantage of, creating a dermatitis or skin infection.
• Sick pets: When our pets are ill, their immune system is often not functioning at 100%. With some illnesses, we use medications that can also lower a pet’s immunity. The sickness or medications can give staph an opportunity to cause an infection.

Signs and Symptoms of an Infection
When staph causes an infection, we can see many different symptoms, which largely depends on which part of the body this opportunistic invader is invading. Symptoms can be classified into two main categories, namely “systemic” (affecting the whole body) or “specific.” Systemic signs of a staph infection can include:

• Fever
• Acting in pain, uncomfortable, or restless
• Loss of interest in food and/or water
• Low energy, lethargy, or hiding

​These systemic symptoms are similar for nearly all infections. More specific symptoms of a staph infection might include:

• Dermatitis: Red, oozing, moist skin that is painful and very irritated
• Skin abscess formation: Soft swelling and large volumes of discharge
• Respiratory infections: Sneezing, runny eyes, coughing, runny snotty nose

In addition, approximately 8 to 10% of all urinary tract infections in pets are caused by “Staph.” Signs of a urinary tract infection include:

• Increased urination
• Bloody urine
• Pain during urinating

See Your Veterinarian!
The most important thing to remember: if your pet is acting ill, see your veterinarian. As a responsible pet owner, it is wise to develop a relationship with a veterinarian you know and trust. That way, at the first sign of trouble you can get our pet treatment.

Source: Trupanion.com / Denise Petryk, DVM